About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like:

We are seeking a hardworking Postdoctoral Appointee to join our team of scientists and engineers performing fundamental research and development in the field of polymer materials science and additive manufacturing process control. As part of a multi-institution research center, you'll work with staff members, technologists, students, and fellow Postdoctoral Appointees to develop, mature, and deploy computer and machine vision inspection technologies that autonomously identify and classify printing attributes of organic materials. Applicants should be experienced with machine or computer vision, data processing for artificial intelligence and software development. Prior experience with in situ diagnostics and machine learning approaches for additive manufacturing are a plus but not required. The ideal candidate will have interest in polymer materials formulation and a demonstrated understanding of process-property relationships unique to additive manufacturing. You will be expected to contribute and execute innovative research ideas, present your research at various internal and external forums and conferences, publish your research in peer-reviewed journals, and pursue patent protection of intellectual property when appropriate. You will be provided with the opportunity, if desired, to mentor students and to seek funding for additional research topics with the guidance and support of your mentorship team.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Develop and build vision-based acquisition systems to acquire time and event-based images of scientific printing processes
• Develop and adapt machine learning algorithms that leverage static and dynamic images for autonomous defect detection and closed loop process control of printing processes
• Develop algorithms and software to support in situ characterization and analysis of materials properties during printing
• Establish relationships between image-based process data and the thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties of additively manufactured hardware
• Use and adapt conventional instrumentation in unconventional manners, develop new apparatus and printing accessories, and develop data analysis and feedback controls for extrusion printing technologies
• Develop, mature, and maintain graphical user interfaces based on the feedback of others
• Create and maintain a local data server for scientific computing needs
• Perform basic lab and equipment maintenance when called upon

Expertise in all of the above areas is not expected, but excitement about learning new techniques and the ability to master new skills quickly will be needed!This position will operate as part of a dynamic team including multiple organizations and will require independent problem solving as well as cooperative teamwork and mentorship.

This will include interacting with PIs and program managers, communicating results (both written and oral), publishing papers, attending conferences, and participating in program meetings.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite

Qualifications We Require:

• Possess, or are pursuing, a PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related STEM field
• Proficiency with Python, MatLab, LabVIEW, or related programing environments and a willingness to automate data acquisition and instrumentation control
• Proficiency developing machine learning algorithms from information sets
• Able to acquire and maintain a DOE security clearance

Qualifications We Desire:

• Experience with additive manufacturing of polymers, metals, or ceramics
• Experience with genetic algorithms, neural networks, supervised and unsupervised machine learning, and regression strategies
• Experience using Aerotech machine tools and controls
• Experience with a broad range of materials characterization and mechanical testing techniques (DSC, TGA, rheology, DMA, IR, UV-Vis, etc
• A dedication to producing high-quality results using good laboratory techniques and focused attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong publication record
• Interest in mentoring undergraduate or graduate students
• Strong work ethic and ability to contribute as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to rapidly learn new skills and work in a fast-paced environment

About Our Team:

The Advanced Materials Laboratory (AML) 1815 is a department within the Material, Physical, and Chemical Sciences Center at Sandia National Laboratories and is co-located at the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The AML conducts research and development to meet a wide range of specialized applications for national security, energy/climate, and nuclear deterrence enabled through partnerships with government, industry, and academic institutions. Technical expertise and focus in the AML is applied to fundamental chemistry of organic and inorganic synthesis, material processing for property-performance optimization, proto-type design engineering for structural-electronic functionality, with an emphasis on expanding autonomous material discovery and informed design enabled by machine learning. The department specializes in advanced manufacturing with an emphasis on defining the boundaries between materials science and process engineering to optimize property performance. Technical capabilities within the department include fiber reinforced composite and nanocomposite manufacturing; chemical, resin, and ink synthesis; additive manufacturing, including Direct Ink Write, Polymer Selective Laser Sintering, Vat Polymerization, Multiphoton Lithography, 3D/structural printed electronics; and rapid cable and connectors prototyping design engineering. Our department is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of engineers, material scientists, and chemists who are dedicated to scientific discovery, creativity, innovation, and practical solutions for our diverse customer set. Our team is committed to a safe and nurturing R&D work environment as an incubator of scientific talent at all academic and career levels, with a long-standing history of advocating for and advancing undergraduate and graduate students through research internships geared toward growing the next generation of scientists.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance:

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Position Information:

This postdoctoral position is a temporary position for up to one year, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to five additional years. The PhD must have been conferred within five years prior to employment.

Individuals in postdoctoral positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

Job ID: 693066